I noticed some videos on YouTube feature an ambient lighting effect around the video, but I’m unsure how to activate this feature or what triggers it. Can anyone explain how it works and what I need to do to use it on my account or device? It seems like a cool feature, and I’d love some guidance.
Oh, Ambient Mode? It’s that flashy glow effect you noticed coming from around the video, making it feel like a next-gen movie theater or something. Honestly, it’s just YouTube flexing with a fancy light show. It’s there to match the video you’re watching, using the colors on the edges of the screen to create an immersive look. Kinda cool, kinda unnecessary – depends on your taste.
Anyway, you can only use it in dark theme (because, duh, light mode users already think their screens are bright enough). Here’s your how-to checklist to enable it:
-
Switch to Dark Theme. If you’re still in Light Theme, go to your profile picture > Appearance > Dark Theme (or just pick it from the settings in your browser/app).
-
Play a video – doesn’t work on all of them, but most do.
-
Look for the little gear icon (Settings) below the vid.
-
Select Ambient Mode toggle. Boom, now your screen has mood lighting – basically like those overpriced LED strips people put behind their TVs.
BTW, it might auto-enable when you’re in dark mode for some ‘optimal viewing experience’ nonsense YouTube pushes. If you don’t like it, same settings area lets you turn it off, like the party pooper you secretly are.
Hope that clears up the hovering mystery. Turn it on, grab some popcorn, and enjoy the glowing vibes… or just ignore it like a normal person who doesn’t obsess over app features. 
So, Ambient Mode… It’s basically YouTube’s way of making you feel like you’re watching stuff in some futuristic light show, all synced up with the video’s colors. Fancy? Sure. Essential? Eh, I’d argue it’s more about showing off than function, but hey, some people like that extra ‘immersive’ vibe.
Now, @boswandelaar already broke down the steps – useful, but I slightly disagree on one thing. This isn’t just a ‘next-gen movie theater’ wannabe. It’s more like YouTube trying to slap some aesthetic bonus onto their dark mode to make you keep it on. Sure, it looks cool when done right, but let’s not pretend it doesn’t sometimes feel a little gimmicky, especially on certain videos that somehow turn it into a chaotic rainbow mess.
Also, heads up: it won’t drastically improve your viewing experience unless you’re already sitting in a dim room glued to the screen. Watching on a phone during the day? Probably not even worth enabling, unless you’re just trying to impress your friends with “Oooh, look at my glowing screen!” vibes.
Lastly, small PSA – if you CAN’T find the Ambient Mode toggle, check if your YouTube app/browser is fully updated. Sometimes YouTube likes to roll these features out slowly or, worse, selectively, which is always great for consistent user experience (sarcasm fully intended).
Verdict: Cool bonus if you’re into aesthetics. If not, you’re not missing out on any groundbreaking must-have feature.